George Harasz and Douglas Wirth pleaded not guilty, and their cases were continued to Feb. 29.

Both were arrested on Nov. 30. Harasz, 48, was charged with two counts of first-degree sexual assault, aggravated first-degree sexual assault, fourth-degree sexual assault, two counts of risk of injury to a minor and cruelty to persons.

Wirth, 44, was charged with one count of third-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor.

According to the arrest warrants, Harasz sexually assaulted two boys, ages 5 and 15, through sodomy and repeated inappropriate touching in bathrooms and bedrooms. The abuse often occurred under the guise of cleaning or massaging them, police said.

Wirth is accused of sexually assaulting the 15-year-old to a lesser degree, and of doing nothing to intervene as he witnessed Harasz sexually assault the teenager, according to the warrants.

Harasz also is accused of physically abusing the 15-year-old, including hitting and slapping the boy frequently, and striking him with a belt.

Glastonbury police interviewed more than half of the married couple's nine adopted children, and several said they did not experience any inappropriate sexual contact with Harasz or Wirth. One of the adopted sons and Harasz's biological daughter said that no abuse occurred in the house.

Another adopted son, Chris Harasz, told investigators that what went on in the Harasz-Wirth home was traumatic and unhealthy.

The state's prosecution of two Glastonbury men accused of sexually assaulting boys they adopted through the state Department of Children and Families took a significant hit when a prosecutor disclosed in court that a new claim of abuse by one of the victims did not stand up to a medical evaluation.